Lord Levy: Visit to Syria

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Lord Levy was representing the Prime Minister on a mission to any country on Monday 12 June: and, if so, which country.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary invited Lord Levy, who met President Asad on several occasions as the Prime Minister's personal envoy, to join the official delegation to Syria for the condolence ceremony on 13 June to mark President Asad's death. The official delegation also included representatives of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties. The party travelled to Syria on 12 June. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary represented the Government at the ceremony and presented a letter from the Prime Minister to Dr Bashar Al-Asad.

Demining Vehicle Export Licence

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have granted a licence for the export of demining vehicles for use by the HALO trust.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government have granted a licence for the export to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) of an armour protected wheel loading tractor for use by the HALO trust, an organisation engaged in humanitarian demining activities in Kosovo on behalf of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). This vehicle is rated on the UK's Military List.
	Although UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1160 (1998) imposed an arms embargo on the FRY, UNSCR 1160 shall not apply to the sale or supply of arms and related material for use by the international civil and security presence in Kosovo. We have notified the UN FRY Sanctions Committee of this export and it has raised no objection.

Sierra Leone Forces: Arms Supply

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the quantum of arms by volume and value that has been, is being or will be supplied by the United Kingdom to Sierra Leone forces trained by the British Army.

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale: As part of our £10 million package of assistance to Sierra Leone, we have provided a range of equipment for the new Sierra Leone army, including light weapons.
	The detailed breadown was as follows:
	2520 x L1A1 SLR rifles.
	1.91 million rounds of 7.62 ammunition.
	132 General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs).
	2,000,000 rounds of ammunition for the GPMGs.
	24 x L16 81mm mortar systems.
	2,000 x 81mm mortar bombs L41 A3HE.
	60 x 81mm mortar bombs L54 A1 illuminating.
	24 x hand held mortar computers.
	24 x 81mm mortar sights.
	7,500 self-loading rifles.
	800,000 rounds of training ammunition for SLR use. These details were passed to the United Nations Sanctions Committee.
	We are considering what further equipment we may provide.

Austria and the UN

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will now publish the advice they have given the Government of the Republic of Austria on how they can cease to be the only member of the United Nations with whom the Government have a policy of refusing bilateral ministerial meetings.

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale: My right honourable friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have had conversations with their Austrian counterparts on the question of the EU 14 measures and have made clear their expectation that the Austrian Government adhere to the welcome commitments they made on coming into office in February 2000.

Austria and the UN

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will list the political, human rights or other offences committed by the Government of the Republic of Austria which have led to their being the only member of the United Nations with which the Government have a policy of refusing bilateral ministerial meetings.

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale: The measures implemented on 4 February by the 14 member states of the EU were an expression of concern over the inclusion of a far-Right party in the Austrian Government. Along with all our EU partners we are committed to act against xenophobia and discrimination and have the obligation to express concern where we see the danger of this arising.

Sudan

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether their current practice of constructive engagement with the Sudan has so far led to changes in the conduct and policies of the Sudanese government towards its own citizens; and whether the time has come for a review of their policy.

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale: We attach high priority to improved respect for human rights in Sudan. We discuss this bilaterally and in the context of the EU/Sudan dialogue. We believe that these exchanges with the Government of Sudan have played a part in securing intensified action to resolve problems such as the abductions of women and children. A number of legal changes are planned. Prisoners have been released.
	We look to the Government of Sudan to make sustained progress in human rights matters and will be reviewing progress in the EU/Sudan dialogue with our European partners in the autumn.

Zimbabwe: Land Reform and Compensation

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What provision was made for farmworkers under the latest offer of land reform and compensation made through the United Nations and rejected by the Zimbabwean Government.

Baroness Amos: The 1998 land conference, convened by the Government of Zimbabwe and attended by donors, international organisations and local civil society, agreed and laid down some principles about the need for fair, transparent and pro-poor land reform. These were agreed by all the participants, including the Government of Zimbabwe, and I will place details in the Library of the House. Following the conference, the Government of Zimbabwe's land reform programme has not been consistent with the agreed principles. The delivery of possible assistance to farmworkers through government-led land reform has not therefore been addressed.

UK Residents Non-domiciled for Tax Purposes

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of the number of people resident in the United Kingdom who are considered non-domiciled for tax purposes; and
	What is their estimate of the number of people resident and voting in the United Kingdom who are considered non-domiciled for tax purposes; and
	What is their estimate of the tax loss to the Exchequer from people who are considered non-domiciled for tax purposes.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: This information is not available.

Central Government Audit and Accountability Steering Group

Lord Orme: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made in appointing members to the steering group for the review of the audit and accountability arrangements for central government.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: I am pleased to announce that the following persons have so far agreed to serve on the steering group:
	Sir John Bourn KCB, Comptroller and Auditor General
	Sir Brian Carsberg, Chairman, International Accounting Standards Committee
	Rt Hon David Davis MP, Chairman, Public Accounts Committee, House of Commons
	Andrew Likierman, Director, Financial Management Reporting and Audit Directorate, HM Treasury
	Iain Plaistowe, Chairman, Auditing Practices Board
	David Rendel MP, Member, Public Accounts Committee, House of Commons
	Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry
	Rt Hon Andrew Smith MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury
	Rosemary Thorne, Group Finance Director, Bradford and Bingley Building Society
	Professor Sir David Tweedie, Chairman, Accounting Standards Board
	Rt Hon Alan Williams MP, Member, Public Accounts Committee, House of Commons.
	The remaining appointments to the steering group will be announced shortly.

Licensing Hours and Alcohol-related Crime

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider that extended drinking hours on licensed premises will increase or decrease alcohol-related crime.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Our views on this issue are set out clearly in the White Paper Time for Reform: Proposals for the Modernisation of Our Licensing Laws, published on 10 April this year. We do not believe that all licensed premises should enjoy later closing times, particularly where this would lead to excessive disturbance to local residents. However, where this can be avoided, extended hours should help ensure that customers leave venues gradually over a longer period and so reduce binge drinking and public order problems arising from large numbers of people arriving on the streets simultaneously. We therefore believe that the scheme described in the White Paper would help to deliver reductions in reports of drink-related offences and in arrests for such offences.

R v Weir: Subsequent Action

Lord Tomlinson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they are taking following the judgment of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) in R v Weir and Attorney-General's Reference No. 3/1999 on 26 May.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: My right honourable friend the Home Secretary is looking at what steps need to be taken, including possible revisions to Section 64 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

Forced Marriage Working Party

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to publish the report of the working group on forced marriage.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The report of the working party on forced marriage, jointly chaired by my noble friends Lady Uddin and Lord Ahmed, has been published today. Copies of the report A Choice by Right have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

CPS: Staff Attitudes and Stress

Lord Windlesham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they propose to initiate the "major co-ordinated programme of change" which is recommended in an OSA Management Report of May on staff attitudes and stress in the Crown Prosecution Service.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Crown Prosecution Service has been undertaking a fundamental programme of change since the publication of the Glidewell review and this continues. The results of the Staff Attitude Survey and Stress Audit 2000 (SSSA 2000) support the change initiatives that are currently under way and the results of the survey will be used in planning and evaluating further changes. In addition, specific actions will be taken by CPS headquarters in response to the results of the SSSA 2000. These include reviewing the support systems the CPS has for staff who may be suffering from stress; and to review the provision of advice on health and safety matters within the department. CPS areas will consider and take forward the results of the SSSA 2000 locally.

Millennium Dome: Discount Packages

Baroness Seccombe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of visitors to the Dome, on a month by month basis, have been admitted free or on a reduced price ticket.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: While the full adult ticket price for admission to the Millennium Experience is £20, 26 per cent of visitors to the Dome have so far taken advantage of the attractive discount packages available. This includes the family five ticket, group concessions and the free education tour scheme. In addition, a number of the Dome's sponsors have recently introduced discounted ticket offers. The result of this is reflected in the percentage of free or discounted tickets sold in June.
	The percentage of free or reduced tickets sold per month is as follows:
	Pre 2000--10 per cent; Jan 2000--10 per cent; Feb 2000--19 per cent; Mar 2000--28 per cent; Apr 2000--26 per cent; May 2000--43 per cent; Jun 2000--(to June)--50 per cent.

Northern Ireland Office: Use of Cars

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 8 June (WA 173), what type and make of cars are used by the Northern Ireland Office

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Northern Ireland Office in London and Belfast use the following cars;
	
		
			 Make Model Number 
			 Vauxhall Omegas 4 
			 Citroen Xsaras 2 
			 Vauxhall Corsa 1 
			 Vauxhall Carlton 1 
			 Vauxhall Combi 1 
			 Vauxhall Astra Estate 1 
			 Vauxhall Escort Estate 1 
			 Toyota Previa 1 
			 Nissan Cargo Vanette 1 
			 Ford Transit 1 
			 Honda Accord 1 
		
	
	This list does not include cars provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

Northern Ireland: Hospital Waiting Lists

Lord Rogan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the number of persons on hospital waiting lists in Northern Ireland increased by some 2,500 to some 47,000 in the three-month period from January to March 2000; and
	What steps they propose to take to reduce hospital waiting lists in Northern Ireland from the longest in the United Kingdom to the national average or below.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Responsibility for this subject has been devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly and is therefore no longer a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Better Regulation Task Force: Chairmanship of Lord Haskins

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Lord Haskins was chairing a task force meeting on Monday 12 June; and, if so, what the meeting was discussing and where it was held.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The noble Lord, Lord Haskins, chaired a meeting of the independent Better Regulation Task Force on Wednesday, 14 June. It was held at the Cabinet Office. The meeting discussed the task force's current and future work programme and matters of topical interest.

Millennium Dome Business Plan

Baroness Blatch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the sole shareholder of the Millennium Dome last read a business plan or budget forecast by the New Millennium Experience Company or a summary of such a plan or forecast prepared by officials.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) revises and updates its business plan at regular intervals As sole shareholder, I see all board papers and was therefore privy to the revised business plan prepared in May which included the new visitor figure estimate.

Millennium Dome Business Plan

Baroness Blatch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 8 June (WA 177), how the sole shareholder of the Millennium Dome dishcarges his responsibility to ensure that the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) meets the Government's commitments for the experience covering cost and effective management if he does not see the business plans and budget forecasts of the NMEC.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) revises and updates its business plan at regular intervals. As sole shareholder, I see all board papers and was therefore privy to the revised business plan prepared in May, which included the new visitor figure estimate.

Departmental Cars

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton of 8 June (WA 173), what type and make of cars are used by Ministry of Defence.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The department uses the following makes of car:
	
		
			 Type Total 
			 Vauxhall(1) 3,764 
			 Ford 2,010 
			 Citroen 250 
			 Rover 216 
			 Renault 206 
			 Volkswagen(1) 204 
			 Peugeot 179 
			 Alfa Romeo 107 
			 Leyland 103 
			 Nissan 89 
			 Toyota 83 
			 Mitsubishi 54 
			 Honda 49 
			 Volvo 49 
			 Audi 41 
			 Mazda 41 
			 BMW 31 
			 Subaru 27 
			 Seat 24 
			 Fiat 21 
			 Austin 19 
			 Hyundai 18 
			 Mercedes 14 
			 Landrover 13 
			 Daihatsu 9 
			 Daewoo 6 
			 Opel 6 
			 SAAB 6 
			 Daimler 4 
			 Chrysler 3 
			 Lada 3 
			 Proton 3 
			 Suzuki 3 
			 Lexus 2 
			 Datsun 1 
			 Isuzu 1 
			 Lancia 1 
			 Other(1) 30 
			 OVERALL 7,690 
		
	
	(1) Vauxhall figure includes 1,571 RAF leased cars.
	(1) Volkswagen figure includes 40 RAF leased cars.
	(1) Other figure includes 26 Army lease cars.
	The list includes vehicles which are on long-term lease to the department but does not include cars provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency. A breakdown of the actual types of vehicle could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Sierra Leone: Requests for Arms and Ammunition

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will respond to requests for arms and ammunition from the Government of Sierra Leone.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Government have made it clear that they will consider requests for assistance from the Government of Sierra Leone. Following a request for ammunition to meet urgent operational needs, therefore, Ministers have agreed that the Government will supply 5 million rounds of 7.62 mm rifle ammunition and 4,000 rounds of 81mm mortar ammunition, which are available as surplus from MoD stocks. This will be transported to Sierra Leone subject to the Government of Sierra Leone securing formal agreement from the ECOWAS Secretariat that this ammunition can be imported as an exception to their Small Arms Moratorium. In accordance with UNSCR 1171 (1998), this shipment will be notified to the UN Sanctions Committee. The Government have received confirmation from President Kabbah that the ammunition will be used only by regular Sierra Leone army soldiers, in accordance with international humanitarian law and human rights standards, and not by child soldiers. The Government remain prepared to consider further requests for assistance from the Government of Sierra Leone.

Parcelforce: International Export Shipments

Baroness Miller of Hendon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of the total international export shipments undertaken by Parcelforce from the United Kingdom may be categorised as (a) business to business shipments; (b) business to consumer shipments; (c) private consumer to private consumer shipments; and (d) shipments of gifts between family members.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: This is a commercial matter for the Post Office. However I understand from it that the proportion of parcels sent is seasonally variable and is in these ranges.
	
		
			  Business to business Business to consumer Consumer to consumer Family member gifts (included in consumer to consumer) 
			 TOTAL (approx. percentages) 41-47% 17-22% 27-37% 20-27%

E-commerce and Changes to the Brussels Convention

Lord Inglewood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will be publishing their response to the consultations sought in the Department of Trade and Industry's paper Proposed Changes to the Brussels Convention before the House of Lords European Union Committee publishes its report on e-commerce; and, if not, whether they will treat the report as if it were a formal response to the consultation.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: In determining their position the Government will take full account of the report, along with the forthcoming opinion of the European Parliament and any amended proposal which the European Commission may then present. These are not expected before the end of July.

Iraq: Applications for Essential Medical Equipment

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How long, on average, the Department of Trade and Industry takes to process an application for essential medical equipment for Iraqi hospitals by recognised United Kingdom-based charities.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Export Control Organisation (ECO) of the DTI does not record the average length of time it takes to process licence applications. The Government's commitments to exporters are published in the ECO's Service and Performance Code which sets out the targets for processing applications. However, these targets do not apply to applications concerning Iran or Iraq or to applications for licences to export goods which are subject to control solely because of UN sanctions. This is because there are special licensing procedures for those destinations which reflect the Government's concerns.

European Single Sky

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Single European Sky will cover the deployment of NATO aircraft in the United Kingdom or in British airspace.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Detailed proposals on Single Sky are still being developed. Therefore, there are currently no mature proposals which would impact on military operations.
	The focus of Single Sky is on improving Europe's civil air traffic management system so it can keep pace with the continuing rapid rise in traffic. It is however recognised that closer co-operation between civil and military authorities is an important factor in achieving this goal.

European Car Free Day

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to participate in the European Union's car free day on Friday 22 September; and what advice or encouragement they are giving to local authorities to support it.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: We are considering whether to sign a declaration drawn up by the European Commission in support of the European car free day on 22 September. We have taken the view that it is for individual authorities to decide whether, and if so how, to support the initiative, taking into account local circumstances.

ORR and sSRA: Discounted Rail Travel

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many employees in:
	(a) the Office of the Rail Regulator (ORR); and
	(b) the Office of the shadow Strategic Rail Authority (sSRA); receive free or discounted rail travel from train operators.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: There are four employees in ORR and 39 in sSRA who receive free or discounted rail travel.

Disabled People: Access to the Built Environment

Lord Dormand of Easington: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action are they taking in respect of the recommendation of the Disability Rights Task Force in From Exclusion to Inclusion that they should establish a statutory group on improving access to the built environment for disabled people.

Lord Whitty: We accept the thinking behind the task force's recommendation. We have therefore asked the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Commitee (DPTAC) to establish a working group to advise government on improving access to the built environment for disabled people. DPTAC has agreed to do so. This new role for the committee will be in addition to its statutory functions in respect of the transport needs of disabled people. There will be no immediate amendment to those statutory functions.
	Easy access to buildings and facilities within buildings are basic civil rights which are sometimes denied to people with disabilities. We will be looking to the new group to tell me how government and industry can make improvements in this area.

Outdoor Advertisement Control

Baroness Massey of Darwen: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they intend to proceed in the light of the reponse to the Outdoor Advertisement Control consultation paper published in July 1999.

Lord Whitty: We are pleased by the positive reaction to the proposals in this consultation paper. The proposals received widespread support and there were also a number of helpful suggestions for improving individual proposals which are reflected in our final conclusions. We are grateful to all those who took the trouble to comment. Their views have been given careful consideration in deciding how to proceed.
	We are placing in the Library of the House a list of our proposals showing the changes made following consultation. The department is now preparing the necessary statutory instruments and guidance to implement the changes.

London Mayor and Assembly Elections

Lord Shepherd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What reports they have received from the Greater London Returning Officer on the election of the mayor and assembly for London.

Lord Whitty: We have now had advice from the Greater London Returning Officer (GLRO) about the first election of the mayor and assembly for London. There were a number of innovations at the election designed to make voting more convenient and to speed up the counting process. These included electronic counting, early voting, opening polling stations an hour earlier than usual and sending a leaflet to every elector containing an election address from each candidate contesting the mayoral election.
	Two issues have emerged in relation to the count: the speed of the count and the number of votes classified as "rejected".
	Although the count took a few hours longer than originally expected, the GLRO has stressed that Ministers can be satisfied that the first use of electronic counting in an election of this size and complexity went well. There were some technical problems with some scanning machines on the night but a manual count would have taken many more days to complete. In all other respects the electronic counting system worked very well and fully in line with expectations.
	A number of other factors also contributed to the slower than expected count. For example, there were a larger than expected number of ballot papers out-sorted by the scanning machines for manual checking before they were entered into the system. It is also the case that as this was the first time that staff had used an electronic counting system in an election, they quite rightly took time to make sure that the new procedures were followed properly. These factors inevitably slow things up.
	The other issue was the larger than expected number of electors who chose not to cast a vote in one or more of the elections. Each elector had four opportunities to vote--first choice for mayor, second choice for mayor, constituency assembly member and London assembly member--and each is recorded separately. If an elector chooses not to vote in any of the four ballots, which they have every right to do, this is recorded as a "rejected" vote even though the ballot paper was left blank. For example, if a voter selects a first choice for mayor but not a second choice, and does not vote at all in the two assembly elections, the system would record one valid vote and three "rejected" votes.
	Over 6.5 million votes were cast by about 1.75 million electors. Around 0.5 million votes were recorded as "rejected". These were made up of multiple votes (where the voter had voted more than once in a column), papers where marks identified the voter, blanks where no vote had been cast and uncertain votes where even after manual checking the voter's intention was still not clear.
	The majority of votes classified as "rejected" simply record the fact that many electors chose not to use all the four votes at their disposal. Almost 300,000 people did not use their second preference vote for the mayor, although they did give a first preference. About 130,000 did not cast a vote for a constituency assembly member and about 70,000 did not cast a vote for a London assembly member. About 1 per cent of ballot papers were "rejected" because they were either marked with multiple votes or had marks that identified the voter. This proportion is in line with other elections.
	Over 3 per cent of voters took advantage of early voting. Almost all of them welcomed the opportunity to vote early and said they would use it again if it is available. Just under half of those who used the facility said that they would not have voted on polling day.
	About 3 per cent of voters also took advantage of the extended polling hours on polling day and voted between 7am and 8am on polling day. In some polling stations 11 per cent of voters voted in the first hour. Most were on their way to work and 20 per cent said that they would not have been able to vote at another time on the day. More people preferred the polls to open an extra hour in the morning rather than later in the evening.
	A leaflet containing election addresses for all 11 mayoral candidates was produced and delivered to every elector in London, as required by law.

Access Funds and Hardship Loans Review

Lord Dormand of Easington: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the report of the Review of Access Funds and Hardship Loans will be available.

Baroness Blackstone: Copies of the report have today been placed in the Library of the House. I am sending copies of the executive summary to every higher education and further education institution which administers access funds or hardship loans in England and Wales.
	The review looked at ways in which these two schemes can be used more effectively to widen access and prevent hardship, with a particular emphasis on mature students.
	My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment attaches great importance to widening access and £87 million will be available next year through the Access Bursary and Hardship Funds. Hardship loans were introduced by this Government to provide extra targeted help for students in financial difficulty.
	The review concluded that changes in the arrangements for offering help to students through these schemes were needed. The report contains a total of 20 recommendations on administration of the funds, as well as further support for mature students. Many of the recommendations addressed to the department have already been implemented or are being put in place for 2000-01.
	A package of measures to provide additional help for mature and disadvantaged students was announced on 25 January. This package includes £17 million for non-repayable bursaries in 2000-01 for mature students; a new childcare grant from 2001-02; and £10 million for opportunity bursaries to improve access to higher education for bright pupils from lower socio-economic groups. In addition, we have provided £2 million to help higher education institutions with the cost of administering the bursaries for mature students in 2000-01.

Asian Longhorn Beetle

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On how many occasions the Asian Longhorn Beetle has been detected in the United Kingdom; and what research they are funding into parasites of the beetle, means of breeding such parasites and their safety for release in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Hayman: Asian Longhorn Beetles and their larvae have been detected in the United Kingdom on 15 occasions. In all cases, the beetles or larvae had arrived in wooden packing material imported from China. The beetle is a native of China and has recently become established in parts of the USA. Extensive research is being carried out in both these countries on various forms of management, including biological control. The Forestry Commission is working with the research workers to try to find an appropriate, environmentally sound method for controlling the beetle.

Asian Longhorn Beetle

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures are in place to deal with an outbreak of Asian Longhorn Beetle in the United Kingdom

Baroness Hayman: If an outbreak is discovered in the United Kingdom, the Forestry Commission will carry out detailed surveys to evaluate the scale of the outbreak. It will then take whatever action is most appropriate, which is likely to be immediate containment followed by felling and burning the infested trees. The necessary legislation to enable the commission to do this is already in place.

International Whaling Commission: UK Position

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What the position of the United Kingdom will be at the forthcoming meeting of the International Whaling Commission.

Baroness Hayman: The International Whaling Commission (IWC) will be holding its 52nd Annual Meeting in Adelaide between 3 and 6 July.
	At this meeting the UK delegation will be confirming that the UK remains strongly opposed to whaling and that our ultimate aim is to secure a permanent, worldwide ban on all whaling, other than some limited aboriginal subsistence whaling. We will be seeking to build upon the successful outcome of the recent CITES meeting where all whale downlisting proposals were rejected and the primacy of the IWC reaffirmed.
	There will be further discussions of proposals put forward by Ireland in 1997 for a package of measures on whaling. The Irish proposals would involve a ban on all whaling, including scientific whaling, outside coastal waters (in effect creating a global ocean sanctuary), with a possibility that countries might authorise whaling under IWC rules within their own coastal waters; there would be a ban on international trade in whale products. In these discussions we will maintain our previous position on these ideas: while we are prepared to discuss constructively all ideas for improving whale conservation, and strongly support some elements of these proposals, we have significant reservations about others, in particular those relating to coastal whaling. Nevertheless, we are prepared to consider interim solutions on the way to our ultimate destination provided that these deliver very real benefits to whale conservation.
	It is, however, unlikely that any progress will be made on the Irish proposals, as the whaling countries and their allies remain opposed to key aspects of them. Japan, in particular, has demonstrated that it is not prepared to consider ending scientific whaling or a ban on international trade in whale products. In these circumstances, the United Kingdom will continue to support the alternative ways of achieving our aims that we outlined at last year's meeting and subsequently reported to the House, 9 June 1999, Official Report, cols. 34-35.
	A key element of our approach is support for the creation of regional sanctuaries, and we will be strongly supporting a proposal put forward by Australia and New Zealand to create a South Pacific whale sanctuary. The proposed sanctuary will afford greater protection to whales in a highly important breeding and feeding area and one through which many other great whales migrate. The proposal has been endorsed by South Pacific Forum leaders.
	At previous IWC meetings the UK, together with a majority of IWC members, has consistently criticised the whaling operations authorised by Japan under special permits--so called "scientific" whaling. It is, therefore, very disappointing that Japan has presented proposals for discussion in the IWC Scientific Committee to extend these whaling operations to cover two further species, Sperm and Bryde's whales. Under the IWC's parent convention, IWC approval for these proposals is not needed and it is for Japan to authorise whaling under special permit. The UK delegation will, nevertheless, be registering the Government's strong objection to these proposals and will be urging Japan to withdraw them.
	There will be further discussion of the revised management scheme (RMS) which is being developed to regulate all aspects of any future commercial whaling. The IWC meeting will be preceded by a two-day working group focusing in particular on the inspection and observation scheme which would form an integral part of the RMS. It is important for the credibility of the IWC for it to be seen to be making progress on the development of the RMS and the UK will continue to participate constructively in this work. We will be seeking a comprehensive RMS that would ensure that, if commercial whaling was ever authorised in future, it could not pose a threat to whale conservation and that catch limits and other rules would be strictly observed. The Government will also be making it clear that our participation in this work is without prejudice to our opposition in principle to commercial whaling.
	As we have at previous meetings, the UK will again be expressing its concern about the cruelty involved in whaling; we also intend to raise the inhumane methods used and lack of regulation in the hunts for small cetaceans such as dolphins and porpoises that take place in some countries. Other topics on which we hope to make progress include the impact of environmental change and pollution on whales and other cetaceans and the encouragement of whalewatching.
	We will report the outcome of the meeting to Parliament.

BSE

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the most recent date on which an animal was born which was subsequently confirmed as having BSE.

Baroness Hayman: An animal born on 25 August 1996 was confirmed as a BSE case on 27 June.
	The date is significant because it is after 1 August 1996, when extra control measures on animal feed containing mammalian meat and bone meal (MBM) has been implemented. The State Veterinary Service will be carrying out a special investigation into the background. However, experts have always foreseen that a few cases of BSE could be confirmed in animals born after this date. Indeed, an assessment last year on behalf of SEAC assumed that, by the end of 2000, up to 19 cases born after August 1996 might be identified.
	There is no risk to food safety as a result of this case. The cow, aged 44 months at the time of slaughter, would not have entered the human food chain because of the rule which prevents animals aged over thirty months. The offspring of this case has already been traced, and will not enter the food chain either.
	Furthermore, this animal would have been ineligible for our Date Based Export Scheme (DBES) not only because of its age but, in any event, also because its mother was slaughtered as a casualty--in November 1996--less than three months after the animal concerned was born. Under the DBES the dam must have survived for at least six months after birth of the calf and shown no signs of BSE.
	There is an automatic cull of offspring of animals which are confirmed cases of BSE. This would not, however, prevent cases of maternally transmitted BSE where the dam was slaughtered--for reasons other than BSE--when the disease was in it pre-clinical phrase. This could have happened in this case.
	Investigations into the source of infection are continuing. In accordance with standing procedures cohort animals born six months either side of this animal will be traced, placed under movement restrictions and barred from the food chain. The State Veterinary Service will investigate thoroughly the background to this case in order to establish whether anything about the BSE epidemic can be learnt from it.
	This case does not change in any way our view that we have the toughest rules in place to protect public health and to eradicate the disease. The overall BSE epidemic continues to decline along predicted lines. Details for Great Britain are given in the table below (also lodged in the House Library).
	
		
			 Year of Birth Total No. of confirmed cases 
			 1974 1 
			 1975 0 
			 1976 2 
			 1977 10 
			 1978 6 
			 1979 41 
			 1980 101 
			 1981 261 
			 1982 1,393 
			 1983 4,461 
			 1984 8,067 
			 1985 11,064 
			 1986 19,731 
			 1987 36,868 
			 1988 22,179 
			 1989 12,642 
			 1990 5,632 
			 1991 4,552 
			 1992 3,097 
			 1993 2,234 
			 1994 1,056 
			 1995 194 
			 1996 2 
			 Unknown* 43,329 
			  
			 Total 176,923 
		
	
	(Data as at 27 June 2000).
	* Before record-keeping requirements were strengthened in 1995-96.

Millennium Dome Additional Funding: Direction

Baroness Blatch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 7 June (WA 158), whether any political letter of direction has been issued within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport or instruction given to the Accounting Officer concerning the financing or operation of the New Millennium Experience Company in 1999 or 2000.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: No letter of direction has been issued within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, or instruction given to its Accounting Officer, concerning the financing or operation of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC).